(I only ever do Logan or Kendall, but this is a special chapter. Also…after posting the last chapter I had this weird feeling of like…people thinking this is a real thing or something? I don't know. Don't go blowing up buildings and shit. Just…FYI.)
James's P.O.V.
"I know you feel bad babe, but Kendall isn't a petty person. Once this is all over with, he'll be okay." I chuckled looking straight ahead, letting him rub my thigh. I was concentrated on the road, but his hand was doing a good job of putting my mind, elsewhere. Besides the road of course. "I think we should redo the downstairs bathroom. I've been binge watching those HGTV shows and…"
"How does your mind jump that fast?" I snapped my head to him quick seeing him looking up from his phone and frown at me. I laughed sitting back and looked back to the front, watching all the cars I was speeding by on the highway. "It's not just the shit with Steven…I mean not the sleeping with him shit. I literally put him in his place. In front of his boyfriend and a criminal. And you. I had to…I just had to prove I was the boss and for what? Because I have some insecurities I can't look past?"
"Is it or is it not true that Kendall has always been the agent on top?"
"That doesn't matter. I…"
"Is it true or not?" I eyed him while still looking at the fast-moving highway and he chuckled squeezing my thigh. "I love Kendall. To hell and back I would stand beside him and support him. But he is trained like a solider. That is his downfall. Just because it makes sense in his head, in that moment, doesn't mean it's the right thing to do. He needs someone…that's where you come in…to hold him back and help him see rationally. Yeah…it sucks that you have to turn your friendship off and be his boss every now and again, but it's what happens when you get a promotion." His hand moved from my thigh up to my hand on the wheel and laced our hands together. I lowered our hands fast and set it on the center console seeing him shift in his seat, looking back down to his phone. "You know what else happens when you get a promotion? You suddenly forget about any talks of having a family." I groaned loudly swerving into the far most right lane, to get off the freeway, just about five minutes away from Kendall and Logan's house. "I know, I know…I need to just relax and not worry about shit. I'm going to eventually get the huge family I've always wanted but I'm getting real sick of waiting James. You told me like…6 years ago you would look at adoption agencies with me. And here we are. It just sucks to see Kendall and Logan, who have been with each other for what…a month and already live together and adopted a kid? How do you think that makes me feel?"
"It shouldn't make you feel anything. They are living a very different life. Why do you always pull this shit?" He laughed quietly, yanking his hand out from mine. I shook my head checking my mirrors and quickly jerked my truck to the side to go into the left turn lane. "Is it alright to be afraid to start a family? Given my job and all?"
"Oh, fuck you James. Don't you dare try to pull that crap right now. When we were in our 20's that was okay. I felt for you and your fears. But we are now grown men, and unlike you, I know what the fuck I want out of this marriage and life." I nodded looking out my window to my left, not even taking a chance to look at him. "Fine. Once again, let's not discuss this important shit that keeps me up at night and worry about only what is important to you." I turned to him slowly seeing him still looking down at his phone.
"Los…"
"Fuck off you asshole. Leave me alone." I looked back to the front and stepped on the gas going through the green light, purposefully screeching my tires, to show Carlos I was pissed off. He didn't seem to even notice. That only furthered my anger. So, I drove even more reckless and fast all the way to the street before Kendall and Logan's house. As I stopped at the stop sign a big black, window tinted SUV pulled out of the long driveway that went to their house. I frowned as the SUV pulled out in front of me and drove off down the street in the direction I was faced. Instead of going after them, I pulled into the driveway and drove down slowly clenching the wheel. "I didn't tell either one of them we were coming. It is only 8 so they might be asleep." I nodded as I pulled up right next to Jimmy's sports car, thankful I made that call to him as soon as I heard news about the explosion. Before my truck was shut off Carlos was already out of it, slamming the door hard behind him. I sighed out hard watching him the whole way as he walked to the deck steps leading up to the house. I got out fast, slipping my keys into my pocket as I shut my door softly. I looked down to my feet as I searched to make sure my phone was in my pocket and made sure my gun was safely in the holster under my arm. Because of that I didn't look where I was going. I ran right into Carlos who was stopped right at the bottom of the steps looking up at the house. I looked up fast opening my moth to ask him what he was doing but stopped. The front door was wide open. And in through the house, as impressive and big as it was, I could still see out to the dining room, and the French doors that led out to the backyard. And on the floor, I could see a head. I could make out who it was because it was the back of the head, but it wasn't moving. "James…"
"Wait out here." I put a hand on his left hip and gently pushed him. As he got out of the way, I stopped again. On the deck right in front of the door, was a cellphone and a gold shinny watch. The watch I easily recognized. Kendall's. I quickly walked up the stairs, letting Carlos go and bent down picking up the phone and watch. It was Kendall's phone. So…as I stood myself up I put the few pieces I had, together. I saw a huge car leave their house not a second before we got here. The front door is wide open and Kendall's phone and watch, both of which I could track, were on the ground. And as I looked into the house, I saw the body I saw before, was that of Logan. "Logan?" I ran into the house as fast as I could putting Kendall's phone and watch into my back-jean pockets. I fell down to my knees as soon as I was close enough to him, and gently rolled him onto his back. From what I could see, he had no wounds. His right eye was swelling up and looked like it was going to start bruising. But the kicker for me, was seeing his wrists bound tight together by a zip-tie. I went to gently hit his face, to wake him up when a sound came from down by Logan's feet. I looked fast and felt the color leave my face. "Jimmy?" I crawled over to him fast and immediately put my hand on the long, open deep cut on his neck. His face was pale, and he was cold to the touch. But he was still alive. "Is Kendall here?" He shook his head slowly as tears came out of his eyes. "I'm gonna get you help buddy." I looked up and glanced around the quiet, empty house. "Carlos?!" I pressed a little harder on his neck hearing him groan and looked back down to him as I heard someone running.
"Oh my God…Logan…"
"Baby…it's gonna be alright. Can you get me a towel? Like a hand towel."
"Ok-okay." I heard him rush into the kitchen and looked up to the stairs.
"Gabriel?!" There was a sound from upstairs that made me sick to my stomach. "Logan!" I figured if I yelled loud enough maybe Logan would wake up. But there was no movement except what came from Carlos as he walked to me, holding out a dish towel. I quickly pulled my phone out of my pocket as he knelt down beside me, putting the towel over my hand. I quickly moved my hand and pressed the towel on his wound as I dialed 71 on my phone and put it to my ear. It rang once before the way too cheerful voice of the receptionist at the office came on.
"This is Amanda speaking. How can I help?"
"Amanda this is Diamond…I just got to Knights house to find Agent Smith with a long cut to his throat. I need immediate medical service to his house on 2497 Ocean drive."
"You got it sir. Any other injuries?"
"Not that I can see."
"Okay. They are on the way. Five minutes out." I hung up without saying goodbye and slipped my phone back into my pocket. I looked up to see Carlos, but he wasn't at Jimmy's head anymore. I turned slightly and saw him gently shaking Logan, trying to wake him.
"Baby…I'm going to check the rest of the house. I need you to hold this."
"No James…I can't…" I reached back with my clean hand and pulled Carlos over to me. I kissed his cheek before forcing his hand to hold where mine was, on the towel. When he was holding it, he let out a little gasp and scooted closer to our hurt friend, putting his other hand on his face. I stood up fast and pulled my gun out from my holster, walking to the stairs. I walked up them fast raising my gun hearing what sounded like muffled talking. I squared my shoulders and peered over the stairs as I got closer to the top. It was mostly dark up here. But I kept going, seeing Gabe's bedroom door shut tight.
"Gabriel?"
"Uncle James!" I swallowed hard rushing to the door and put my gun back. I grabbed the handle and turned it, but it stayed in place. "It's my Uncle! He's a good guy!" I heard the bed squeak followed by hurried heavy footsteps. The door pulled open and I was immediately put face to face with a young, tall looking kid, I had only heard about. Robbie, I had to assume. "Uncle James!" I looked down fast seeing Gabe pushing Robbie to the side, running into my legs. "Bad men had my daddy tied up and they had a gun to Mr. Kendall's head." I scooped Gabe up quick using my clean hand and held him tight looking at the kid I was meeting for the first time.
"Are either of you hurt?" Robbie shook his head, his mouth hanging open. I held around Gabe with one arm letting him wrap his legs around my torso and his arms around my neck. I extended my other hand but lowered it fast seeing the blood on it. "My name is James Diamond. I'm a very good friend of Kendall and Logan's. I'm also a C.I.A. agent. You must be Robbie." He nodded looking down at my bloody hand and I cleared my throat. "Can you get me a wet wash cloth? My hand…" He nodded fast and I stepped out of the way letting him rush into the bathroom opposite us. "Can you tell me what happened?" I walked to the entry of the bathroom letting Gabe push into my neck taking in a deep breath.
"Uhm…Kendall, Gabe and I went on a walk on the beach. When we got back…" He turned to me with one of Gabe's dark blue hand towels soaking wet. I raised my bloody hand, to take it from him, but he instead put it over my hand and pulled me in further into the bathroom. He put my hand under the faucet and turned the water on hot. He started to clean my hand. I looked at his head through the mirror and could already tell I would like this kid. "Kendall must have seen something…he told us to stay on the deck and he went in. And then Logan asked us to come in, and some British guy had Logan tied up, and a gun to Kendall's head." Gabe pushed off my shoulder and made me look at him.
"It was Steven Uncle James." His voice was quiet and low. My mouth fell open as Robbie scrubbed my hand and Gabe nodded, rubbing one eye, as tears started to come out. "Is my dad okay? Is Kendall?"
"I…" I paused because the loud, terrified voice of my best friend echoed upstairs.
"Gabriel?! Kendall?!" Gabe struggled in my arms, but I held him still, knowing Logan would not want Gabe to see Jimmy bleeding to death on the ground.
"I have Gabe! Just give me a minute!" I looked down to see my hand clean and took it out fast grabbing a dry towel. As I dried my hand, again with the help of Robbie I heard running feet coming upstairs. I walked out of the room just in time to see Carlos coming up to us plea face.
"He doesn't want them down there…I'll stay up with them. He's looking at Jimmy's neck." I nodded fast letting Carlos take Gabe from me and bolted down the stairs, hearing in the very distance the sound of a helicopter. As I got down the stairs, I saw Logan kneeling over Jimmy, holding the towel on his neck, while talking to him quietly.
"Loges…" I rushed to him, getting on my knees and raised his head seeing tears pouring out of his eyes.
"Steven took Kendall…he tried to take me but Kendall…" He stopped and lowered his head sobbing out. "I'm so sorry Jimmy…I should have done something to stop him…" Jimmy reached up and gently cupped Logan's face coughing out a little. "He needs to get this closed…" Logan looked back up and rubbed his left eye, on his shoulder. "It doesn't look deep. But he's losing a lot of blood."
"I know…I already called it in. They'll be here soon." I put a hand on Logan's shoulder and scooted closer. "Why did he take Kendall?"
"Because…he's going to use him to get money. Or he's going to take money from someone foreign who wants codes to weapons and information, I assume." Logan looked back to me and swallowed hard. "Kendall told me to tell you…code black." I sat back fast and sat up straight looking right into Logan's eyes. "What does that mean James?" I felt the entirety of my world collapse around me. Hearing code black from an agent was damaging. In the simplest terms it meant, an agent has been taken, and the likely hood of survival was low. Knowing Kendall…I knew he would never say something like that if he didn't mean it. That broke my heart. "James please…I need Kendall. Please tell me you are going to get him." I looked down to Jimmy fast, who put a hand on my arm and coughed out a little. My brain stopped working in that moment. I felt everyone around me…Logan and Jimmy that is, but nothing was making sense. The seconds passed to minutes and before I could do or say anything to help either of my friends, four huge, big looking dudes came into the house and gently shooed Logan and I away. I saw Logan's mouth moved as he talked to the four agents but couldn't hear any of them. I saw two more guys, wearing black scrubs, walk in with a gurney and quickly put Jimmy on it. I watched them talk some more as Logan stood up with gurney and took Jimmy's hand in one of his. No one seemed to notice or care that I was still on the ground, fist clenched hard on my thighs. No one expect Logan. When they started to wheel Jimmy out through the house to the front door, Logan dropped to his knees in front of me and put his hands on my cheeks. His mouth was moving again, but I still heard nothing. All I could think about was…how would I tell him Kendall would probably be dead, in the next 24 hours, or sooner?
I was numb. The people around me…the people who were my family had to walk me out of the house and put me in my truck. In the front seat next to Carlos who quickly sped off behind the ambulance as soon as Logan and the boys were in the back. I watched as Carlos carelessly sped after the ambulance and the two SUV's. I knew we were going to the C.I.A. office building. Because I knew, in situations as sensitive as these, regular hospitals wouldn't cut it. We couldn't guarantee safety and protection. In our own building, with armed guards, and our very own Emergency room hospital type floor. We had Military trained doctors and nurses. We had a well-equipped staff. And every type of antibody and medicine under the sun. As we walked through the halls, two agents leading us, I realized Jimmy was going to be fine. It sort of helped clear my head. It did not help my sad thoughts about Kendall. But it made me realize I was walking. And we weren't in the truck anymore. It didn't hit me, that we were being led to a huge room with several beds, chairs and a small make shift kitchen, what the plan was. Logan must have told the other agents Kendall said code black. To them, it meant the five of us were now going to be put on lockdown, until Kendall was found. Dead or alive.
I sat down in one of the many chairs with a table in front of it and put my elbows on the wood, covering my face fast. Immediately a hand rubbed the back of my neck and someone kissed my left ear. "Baby talk to me…you're scaring me." Carlos's scared, sad low voice somehow made me chuckle. Mostly because it was the first voice I heard clearly in a while. "James…" I shook my head lowering my hands and saw, sitting across from me, was Logan, Gabe and Robbie. Logan had Gabe on his lap, and both were staring wide eyed at me. Robbie looked like he was going to be sick. He looked a little green in the face. And was holding around his stomach. "Those agents said…your boss is coming in to talk to us. Talk to us about what?" I turned slowly and locked eyes with Carlos who raised his other hand and cupped my cheek.
"We are being put in protective watch. Because my partner…your boyfriend…" I turned to Logan who sucked in a hard breath pulling Gabe back into him, squeezing him. "Was taken, they fear they would come after us. It's a safety precaution."
"So…when are you going to go out and find him? What the hell does Code Black mean James?" I leaned forward, Carlos's hand falling off my face.
"I can't go out and find him. Another agent…several probably, will be the ones bringing him back. If they even can bring him back." Logan's mouth parted slightly, and I shook my head. "Code Black means the agent taken is most likely dead and do whatever we can do, to make sure the security of our nation is still intact." He looked away fast, tears coming out of his eyes and I leaned forward even more seeing Robbie looking up at me, blank. "Kendall made his choice…to let Steven take him, instead of you, because he knows he could handle whatever they will do to him, a lot better than you would." Logan's eyes closed, and he sobbed out putting Gabe in front of his face, so I couldn't see him. "Do yourself a favor and start to plan a second funeral."
"James…" I was pulled back gently by Carlos who was now standing and pushing me back in my chair. "Take it easy."
"No. This is the reality of the job Logan." Logan looked back to me, lips pressed hard together, and I shrugged. "Something else should have happened at your house. Someone, whether it be Kendall or Jimmy should have handled this better. If they had, this wouldn't have happened."
"Nothing could have been done James. There were too many of them." I shook my head looking away as Carlos gripped my neck softly. "You have to get him. You need to go find him okay, because nothing is going to happen. Please James…" I turned back to him, to see him gently putting Gabe in the chair beside him. "James…"
"Logan what's done is done. We don't negotiate with terrorists. We either give into their demands and hope for the best. Or we hold out and lose one agent compared to millions of innocent lives."
"Stop it! Stop saying that shit!" Logan jumped up and glared down at me, tears streaming down his face. "Go out there! Find him and bring him back to me! Now!"
"I can't!" I jumped up too, towering over him and about ten times louder. He jumped back breathing hard and I shook my head. "Hold your kid and thank God above he didn't kill you. Or Gabe."
"No…if you aren't going to do it…I will." He wiped his face aggressively and walked around the table and went to the door. I watched as he grabbed the handle and pulled hard. He huffed out and slammed his palm onto the door hard. "Let me out! If no one else is going to do anything, I fucking will!" He knocked on the door again, and I quickly walked to him. I grabbed both his shoulders, which made him turn fast and shove me fast. "Go get him!" I took one step back when he shoved me but did nothing. I kept a hold of his shoulders, only pissing him off more it seemed. He raised his hands to shove me again, but I was faster. I quickly pulled him into me and wrapped tight around his back putting my chin on the top of his head. "Bring him back…please." He said it quietly, as he sobbed loudly on my chest as he grabbed my shirt in the back and pulled. "Please James…I need him." I held him tighter, softly kissing the top of his head closing my eyes.
"I'm sorry Logan. I'm…I'm going to bring him back. I promise." He sobbed openly again shoving his face into my shoulder. "I will do whatever it takes to bring him back to you. I promise Logan."
